Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Geoff Schwartz - how to pick a great NFL lineman

KB_fan

By KB_fan,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

KB_fan Proficient

KB_fan

Posted
Posted

Nice article by Geoff Schwartz:

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/25/15358566/nfl-draft-offensive-line-prospects-evaluation-geoff-schwartz

A few excerpts

 

Quote

 

When you start in a stance that's efficient for you, you can play with balance and power, and be efficient with your movement. Because offensive linemen are often athletically inferior to defensive linemen, wasted movement is a no-no. When you have wasted movement, your feet will either be too narrow, or too wide. When you make contact, you will be leaning on guys with your hips behind you, which means ZERO power.

In college, you will notice that a majority of offensive linemen spend their time in a two-point stance, with no hand on the ground. This stance is comfortable — no straining required. But in the NFL, a good three-point stance is required for success. It allows for efficient movement, and also masks whether the play call is a run or a pass.

That’s why you often see college programs with pro style offenses — Iowa, Wisconsin, USC, Notre Dame, and Ohio State — produce excellent NFL offensive lineman. Linemen from these systems have taken so many reps out the three-point stance that they only need to adjust to the speed and strength of NFL defensive lineman.

 

 

 

Quote

 

We need the utmost trust in our line mates to work in perfect unison and be successful. The best linemen know everyone else’s job as well as their own, like who wide receivers are supposed to block on a run.

Physically, linemen must finish. Finishing in the NFL doesn’t just mean pancaking players — that’s rare. Finishing means, essentially, taking your man further than he wants to go, with an attitude. Finishing is so important because it’s a mindset. You build that mindset in the weight room and in the meeting room. It only happens when your body is in a position to move the defender with power — a good base, engaged core, powerful hips, strong hands in the right position, and knowing exactly when to strike.

If you always strive to finish, it will show up on Sundays.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KB_fan Proficient

KB_fan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

More:

 

Quote

 

Luke Joeckel, Ereck Flowers, and Greg Robinson were all highly regarded draft prospects, and all three have struggled so far in the NFL. Watching their college film, it’s clear that they are athletic and talented, and have the potential to be excellent pros. Joeckel and Robinson played in college offenses that barely resembled anything that exists in the NFL. I could hardly find any clips to make comparisons. Flowers played in a pro-style offense, so it’s even more disappointing that he hasn’t made the transition well.

Flowers had his technique issues in college, but they were overlooked because he's physically superior to his opponents. He wastes movement in his pass sets. Notice in the clips below the hitch in his kick with his front leg and how he opens up late. Because his feet are behind his body and he’s not in a good base, he can’t properly punch. Instead of punching from his back, with his head back and core engaged, he punches from the shoulders, and often has his hands way outside of the frame of the defender.

When you miss with your hands but punch from the back with your elbows in, you can recover. These are techniques that, without the practice time, are difficult to correct.

 

 

Quote

 

In college, when you’re physically superior to your opponent, some of these issues can be overlooked, but if a lineman struggles with his base in college, he is bound to struggle in the NFL when the game is faster and more precise.

Lack of practice time, which is most appreciated by current players, has no doubt hurt offensive lineman the most, but the NFL is slowly starting to fix the process. Teams are hiring offensive line scouts specifically to help identify college players — players like Ronnie Stanley, Taylor Decker, and Jack Conklin — who are able to smoothly transition to the NFL out of their college systems.

The key to drafting linemen is to look for techniques that translate to the NFL, rather than fawning over the physical traits of a particular lineman who has unfixable issues.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Your GFs favorite huddler Contributor

Your GFs favorite huddler

Posted
Posted

Love it! As a former offensive lineman it's nice to read an article about us for a change.

I think he's on to something though. Good offensive lineman are becoming few and far between. And it's starts at a young age. Bigger kids can't play in pop Warner leagues in certain areas due to weight restrictions. Most prototypical offensive lineman don't play till high school, and most high schools are transitioning to spread concepts. Most kids don't want to play offensive line either. Its not a glamorous position and parents don't help this either. I think we are only beginning to see the impacts of modern day offense on the NFL and its talent pool.

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yasuhara2241 Contributor

yasuhara2241

Posted
Posted

Great find @KB_fan! The offensive lineman position is one of the hardest ones to gauge as a fan. I have no clue what I am looking for to analyze a player. Most of the time we just look to see if they have given up sacks or pressures but there is a lot that goes into it.

That being said, for this draft and probably all future ones I will leave the analyzing to people who get paid to do it or enjoy it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Khyber53 Grand Master

Khyber53

Posted
Posted

Great read, thanks @KB_fan, you always find the insight!

While most of the talk right now deals with RBs for our 1st round draft choice, we've got to look at the possibility of Gettleman picking up a Hog Mollie in the first if the right guy is still available. Neither of our OT positions are very well set at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Panthero Mentor

Panthero

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Great read, thanks @KB_fan, you always find the insight!

While most of the talk right now deals with RBs for our 1st round draft choice, we've got to look at the possibility of Gettleman picking up a Hog Mollie in the first if the right guy is still available. Neither of our OT positions are very well set at the moment.

i think certainly the first two rounds if we want a good one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ace_Aladdin Newbie

Ace_Aladdin

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

Great read, thanks @KB_fan, you always find the insight!

While most of the talk right now deals with RBs for our 1st round draft choice, we've got to look at the possibility of Gettleman picking up a Hog Mollie in the first if the right guy is still available. Neither of our OT positions are very well set at the moment.

I am happy with our OTs espically Daryl Williams , we should draft a OT in the mid to late rounds.

Getting a true inline TE will help the OL a lot more with ability to block and stretch the defense.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ace_Aladdin Newbie

Ace_Aladdin

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

just 1, most likely Turner

I disagree its gonna be both of them. Salary Cap is going up & Its going to be a long term deal where the cap spread out.  

Just like Saints did with Jahari Evans & Carl Nicks , but Panthers will have even longer term success with better supporting defense & offensive perssonel.

Its a copy cat league where old things are reinvented. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...